“No Man’s life liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session”.

- attributed to NY State Judge Gideon Tucker



Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Lightsquared- The Other Breaking Administration Scandal

It's not just the Soyndra scandal that is currently breaking in Washington, D.C.

There's also the little matter of Lightsquared.

"LightSquared is owned by the Harbinger Capital hedge fund, headed by billionaire investor Phil Falcone. He visited the White House and made large donations to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Soon after, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted LightSquared a highly unusual waiver that allows the company to build out a national 4G wireless network on the cheap.



The deal has been criticized not only for its 'pay to play' appearance but also because the LightSquared network would interfere with the part of the wireless spectrum that is used by Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

Meanwhile, the White House is facing accusations that it tried to pressure an Air Force general to change his testimony on the GPS interference issue. According to the Washington Post:



GOP staffers of the House strategic forces subcommittee accused the White House of trying to influence the testimony of an Air Force general who was speaking about the project's potential to interfere with the Global Positioning System, the satellite network relied on by the military and private industry. The staffers said Gen. William Shelton revealed in an earlier closed meeting that the White House pressured him to include language in his testimony Thursday supporting LightSquared's venture."


Shelton's accusation is particularly damaging because, according to legal commentators, it involves the administration in orchestrating testimony. A serious matter which is criminal in nature.
Isn't it ironic that Solyndra and Lightsquared are both hitting the administration together? And don't forget the still-lingering Fast and Furious scandal. That's the operation in which Justice oversaw distributing arms to Mexican drug dealers which have killed law enforcement personnel. Eric Holder is, I believe, still stonewalling that one.

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